Delphinium Plant Named &#39;ET DLP 17-03&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Delphinium  plant named ‘ET DLP 17-03’, characterized by its relatively compact, upright and sturdy plant habit; relatively small dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; strong flowering stems with dense inflorescences with numerous violet blue-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Delphinium elatum X (Delphinium x belladonna).

Cultivar denomination: ‘ET DLP 17-03’.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION AND STATEMENT REGARDING PRIORDISCLOSURES BY INVENTORS/APPLICANTS

This application claims priority to a European Community Plant Breeders'Rights application filed on Nov. 1, 2019, application number 2019/2769.There have been no offers for sale anywhere in the world prior to theeffective filing date of this Application and no accessibility to one ofordinary skill in the art could have been derived from the printed PlantBreeder's Rights documents.

The Inventors/Applicants assert that no publications nor advertisementsrelating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred morethan one year prior to the effective filing date of this application.Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from adirect or indirect disclosure from the Inventors/Applicants.Inventors/Applicants claim a prior art exemption under 35 U.S.C.102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but lessthan one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofDelphinium plant, botanically known as Delphinium elatum X (Delphinium xbelladonna), typically grown as a perennial garden plant and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘ET DLP 17-03’.

The new Delphinium plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventors in Boijl, The Netherlands. The objective ofthe breeding program is to create new relatively compact and strongDelphinium plants with dense inflorescences and unique and attractiveflower colors.

The new Delphinium plant originated from a cross-pollination in July,2012 of a proprietary selection of Delphinium elatum identified as codenumber 1406, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with aproprietary selection of Delphinium x belladonna identified as codenumber 578, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The newDelphinium plant was discovered and selected by the Inventors as asingle flowering plant from within the progeny of the statedcross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Boijl, TheNetherlands in July, 2013.

Asexual reproduction of the new Delphinium plant by in vitro meristemculture in a controlled environment in Boijl, The Netherlands, sinceSeptember, 2015 has shown that the unique features of this newDelphinium plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Delphinium have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘ET DLP 17-03’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘ET DLP 17-03’ as a new and distinctDelphinium plant:

1. Relatively compact, upright and sturdy plant habit.

2. Relatively small dark green-colored leaves.

3. Freely flowering habit.

4. Strong flowering stems with dense inflorescences with numerous violetblue-colored flowers.

5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Delphinium differ primarily from plants of the femaleparent selection in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Delphinium have shorter and stronger uprightflowering stems than plants of the female parent selection.

2. Plants of the new Delphinium have denser foliage than plants of thefemale parent selection.

3. Flowering stems of plants of the new Delphinium are branching whereasflowering stems of plants of the female parent selection are notbranching.

Plants of the new Delphinium differ primarily from plants of the maleparent selection in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Delphinium have shorter and stronger uprightflowering stems than plants of the male parent selection.

2. Plants of the new Delphinium are more compact than plants of the maleparent selection.

3. Flowering stems of plants of the new Delphinium are branching whereasflowering stems of plants of the male parent selection are notbranching.

Plants of the new Delphinium can be compared to plants of Delphiniumelatum ‘Flamingo Star’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons,plants of the new Delphinium differ primarily from plants of ‘FlamingoStar’ in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Delphinium are more compact than plants of‘Flamingo Star’.

2. Plants of the new Delphinium have stronger flowering stems thanplants of ‘Flamingo Star’.

3. Flowering stems of plants of the new Delphinium are branching whereasflowering stems of plants of ‘Flamingo Star’ are not branching.

4. Flowers of plants of the new Delphinium are violet blue in colorwhereas flowers of plants of ‘Flamingo Star’ are pink in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the Delphinium plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the actualcolors of the new Delphinium plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 of 2) comprises a sideperspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘ET DLP 17-03’ grown inan outdoor nursery.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2 of 2) is a close-up view of atypical flower of ‘ET DLP 17-03’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used for the following description were grown in ground beds and26-cm containers during the spring and summer in an outdoor nursery inBoijl, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical ofcommercial Delphinium production. During the production of the plants,day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 23° C. and night temperaturesranged from 10° C. to 16° C. Plants were one year old when thephotographs and the description were taken. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Delphinium elatum X (Delphinium x    belladonna) ‘ET DLP 17-03’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Delphinium            elatum identified as code number 1406, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Delphinium            x belladonna identified as code number 578, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type of propagation.—In vitro meristem culture.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 12 to 16 days at            temperatures ranging from 15° C. to 21° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 15 to 25 days at            temperatures ranging from 12° C. to 15° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About four            weeks at temperatures ranging from 18° C. to 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About five to            six weeks at temperatures ranging from 12° C. to 15° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically            close to 11A in color, actual color of the roots is            dependent on substrate composition, water quality,            fertilizer type and formulation, substrate temperature and            physiological age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant type.—Herbaceous perennial.        -   Plant and growth habit.—Relatively compact, upright and            sturdy plant habit; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth            habit and moderate growth rate; freely branching habit.        -   Plant height.—About 65 cm.        -   Plant width.—About 40 cm to 50 cm.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate or whorled towards the plant base.        -   Length.—About 6 cm to 10 cm.        -   Width.—About 10 cm to 15 cm.        -   Shape.—Palmately lobed with three to five lobes per leaf.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Cordate.        -   Margin.—Entire and incised.        -   Texture, upper surface.—Slightly pubescent; smooth.        -   Texture, lower surface.—Slightly pubescent; rough.        -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.        -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:            Close to 137A; venation, close to 144C. Developing and fully            expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 138B; venation,            close to 144C.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 5 cm to 12 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm            to 5 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Pubescent; smooth. Color, upper and lower            surfaces: Close to 144B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and shape.—Double star-shaped flowers            arranged on dense terminal racemes; flowers face mostly            outwardly.        -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering habit with about 30 to 40            flowers developing per inflorescence and more than 500            flowers per plant.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Long flowering period; plants            flower continuously during the spring and summer in The            Netherlands.        -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about two weeks on the plant;            flowers not persistent.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2 cm to 3 cm. Diameter: About 1            cm to 2 cm. Shape: Ovate. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color:            Close to 145D.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 25 cm to 35 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 10 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 3 cm to 5 cm.        -   Flower height.—About 2.5 cm.        -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: About three to five            crowded in the center of the flower. Length: About 1.5 mm.            Width: About 1 mm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Obtuse. Base:            Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; satiny. Color: When opening and            fully developed, upper surface: Close to 98B; towards the            center and base, mixed with close to N87D; with development,            color becoming closer to 98B. When opening and fully opened,            lower surface: Close to 98B; towards the center and base,            mixed with close to N87D; with development, color becoming            closer to 98B.        -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: About 15 to 20 arranged in            several whorls. Length: About 2 cm. Width: About 1.5 cm.            Shape: Obovate. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Attenuate. Margin:            Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;            satiny. Color: When opening and fully developed, upper            surface: Close to 98B; towards the center and base, mixed            with close to N87D; with development, color becoming closer            to 98B. When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close            to 98B; towards the center and base, mixed with close to            N87D; with development, color becoming closer to 98B.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 60 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm.            Aspect: Erect. Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.            Color: Close to 144B to 144C.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 2 cm to 3 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm            to 5 mm. Aspect: About 45° from peduncle axis. Strength:            Moderately strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close            to 144B to 144C.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Numerous,            variable. Filament length: About 1 mm to 2 mm. Filament            color: Close to 155A. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther length:            About 1 mm to 2 mm. Anther color: Close to 1A to 1D. Pollen            amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 10A. Pistils:            Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 1 mm to 3 mm.            Stigma shape: Rounded. Stigma color: Close to 155A.        -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development have            not been observed on plants of the new Delphinium.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Delphinium    have not been noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Delphinium plants.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Delphinium have exhibited good    garden performance and to be tolerant to rain, wind and temperatures    ranging from −20° C. to 40° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Delphinium plant named ‘ET DLP17-03’ as illustrated and described.